Testimonials

We contract for a periodic independent evaluation of the 21things4teacher professional development program to appraise how it is enhancing how teachers teach and how students learn in their classrooms.

The evaluations are gathered through surveys, personal classroom visits, and virtual focus group meetings. These are conducted by:

Teacher feedback

How has this made a difference for your students in the classroom?

• "This was the best class I have ever taken. Learning all of the different programs was what I liked best. I learned so much and could use it with my students immediately." Carol Johnson

• "My students think it's great to have some other choices and times where they can be more creative." Peggy Witteveen

• "My students are more motivated when I am using the tools I have learned about." Michelle Scarbom

How has student engagement changed?

• "Students love anything technology related so most of the stuff we covered in 21 Things helps with student engagement." S.K. McCarley

• "The visual learners have been especially helped with extra tools to help them understand the material." Laurel Iverson

• "I have been able to use tools on my Apple TV with whole groups. I have also been able to better utilize the five iPads that my students have in the classroom." Janet Hayter

A comment from a statewide course participant

"I like that it is offered on-line, that it is flexible for those with busy schedules, and that it is reasonably priced. I learned so many, many things! This course was CRITICAL to my growth as a tech. savvy professional." Stephanie Sytsema

Some additional comments

• I am setting up more tutorials and web-based resources for staff that I am training.

• I feel like I still need some time to process many of the things I have learned. I have started to implement a few small things with my students, but most of what it am using from the course is for my own organization and lesson-development so far. I plan to review over the summer and find ways to get the kids using more technology, too.

• I will feel more confident integrating technology into the curriculum and I will teach my students how to be responsible, digital citizens.

• I have begun to use tech. much more to engage my students and am researching the most effective ways to get my students using the technology as well.

• I am using Google documents to replace some library sign-up sheets. I am considering the use of Socrative for some assessment of library skills. I have learned about many useful technology tools. They will be used in the future, I am sure.

• I discovered some ways to organize my resources. I also discovered new organizational tools to use with students to summarize learning. I learned to better utilize some of the apps I already used with students and I discovered new apps and tools.

• This has changed how I use technology. It is now integrated where before technology was really an afterthought or a fun addition.

• I have begun incorporating more technology on the teaching side and the student side of things. I like that some of them have been able to be incorporated quickly and smoothly with the technology I have available in my classroom, too.

• It has given me all kinds of tools to both use and to share with my colleagues.

What teachers like best about this resource

21Things 4 Teachers is applauded for being immediately useful and applicable in the classroom ... "it's so practical" and "teachers learn skills they can apply in whatever setting they're in".

Moreover, 21t4t is still useful and relevant long after the course ... "I'm still using what I learned, the content is still applicable to what I do" and "what I learned stuck with me, I continue to build on it" and "this fits so many different subjects, so I continue to use it".

Periodic updates of 21t4t are appreciated for sustaining its relevance ... "it's fantastic how they've kept the 21t4t site current, when things change or fade out, they're right on top of it" and "I know they tweak it every year, bringing in what's most relevant to learning right now".

An instructional technology specialist adds "there's nothing else like it out there, each section is clearly defined, and it gives you reflection time and practice time".

21 Things 4 Teachers is applauded for being immediately useful and applicable in the classroom ... "it's so practical" and "teachers learn skills they can apply in whatever setting they're in".

Moreover, 21t4t is still useful and relevant long after the course ... "I'm still using what I learned, the content is still applicable to what I do" and "what I learned stuck with me, I continue to build on it" and "this fits so many different subjects, so I continue to use it".

Periodic updates of 21t4t are appreciated for sustaining its relevance ... "it's fantastic how they've kept the 21t4t site current, when things change or fade out, they're right on top of it" and "I know they tweak it every year, bringing in what's most relevant to learning right now".

An instructional technology specialist adds "there's nothing else like it out there, each section is clearly defined, and it gives you reflection time and practice time".

21Things4Teachers is a project of the Regional Educational Media Center Association of Michigan. The REMC Association promotes the transformative use of technology and provides Michigan schools with access to educational resources to help teachers increase student success. For more information, visit remc.org, or connect with the REMC Association on social media at, facebook.com/REMCAssociation and twitter.com/REMCAssociation.